FRANKFORT, Ky. – The West Virginia State women's volleyball team were perfect, winning nine straight sets over three matches enroute to a Kentucky State Invitational Championship. They defeated Maryville University out of Missouri, 25-21, 25-16, and 25-21 on Friday at Noon. They then defeated Kentucky State, 25-16, 25-19, and 25-9 before winning their final match of the tournament against Central State out of Wilberforce, Ohio, 25-17, 25-12, and 25-20.

The Yellow Jackets improve to 3-0 on the young season. The Maryville Saints fall to 1-1 on the season, The Kentucky State Thorobreds fall to 0-2, and the Central State Marauders fall to 1-2.

Match 1 (West Virginia State vs. Maryville)

The Yellow Jackets and Saints fought back and forth in the first set, before the Yellow Jackets took control of the set off of a kill by Gabrielle Bullock that made the score 18-17. Jenna Dufresne provided the set winner.

The second set was more lopsided as the Yellow Jackets closed the set on a 12-3 run on the back of two service aces from Freshman Ashlynne Davis, three kills from Dufresne, and a kill each from Gabrielle Bullock and Kiersten Eggleton.

The third set was the most intense of the match featuring 13 ties and seven lead changes. A service error from Maryville's Grace Knadier set the score at 19-20 and the Yellow Jackets never looked back as a Peri Martin Kill would win the set and complete the sweep.

Dufresne led all players with 15 kills. Peri Martin had a team high 13 assists along with five digs. Sophomore Alex Darby had a match high 13 digs. As a team, West Virginia State was efficient on the attacking side, posting a .265 attack percentage.

Match 2 (West Virginia State vs. Kentucky State)

The Yellow Jackets led from the opening serve in the first set before Grace Martin finished it off to take set one, 25-16. The second set was a little more back and forth before the Yellow Jackets went on a 14-6 run, forcing the host team to take a timeout with the score 16-8. Dufresne capped off the set at 25-19.

The third set started with Kentucky State having first serve and it would be the last serve the host team had for quite some time as the Yellow Jackets exploded for 18 straight points on the back of Peri Martin's nine service aces. The set was never in doubt with the Yellow Jackets taking it 25-9, and the hosts were swept, three sets to none.

Dufresne led in kills with nine, Eggleton had 14 assists, Peri Martin had nine service aces and Darby led with seven digs.

Match 3 (West Virginia State vs. Central State)

The first set started back and forth with each team trading service errors, then trading kills. Dufresne then rattled off three consecutive kills to put the Yellow Jackets ahead for good in set one. Dufresne had eight in the frame and the Yellow Jackets won the first set 25-17.

The Yellow Jackets led the second set wire to wire with Dufresne posting eight kills in the set. Eggleton and Peri Martin each had seven assists in the 25-12 set two victory. Set three would prove to be the final set in the tournament with the Yellow Jackets pulling ahead from the outset 8-2. They would never look back, but Central State would not go down quietly. Central State rattled off four straight points while staring down match point before an attack error by the Mauraders would seal the set, match and championship to the Yellow Jackets.

Dufresne led the way in the match with 20 of West Virginia State's 41 kills. Eggleton led the team with 15 assists. Rachelle Madison entered the match as the Libero in the second set and notched a team high 12 digs.

The Yellow Jackets travel to Raleigh, N.C. on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the St. Augustine University Falcons at noon, and the Shaw University Bears at 2 p.m.